With highs of up to 23C recorded in some parts of the country today, most people ditched their office desk lunches in favour of something a bit different.

Other than buying ready made food, would-be chefs were firing up their barbecues and cooking up a storm in their back gardens.

And in Sandycove in Dublin today, pictured in our gallery above, revellers enjoyed the sunshine and made a splash in the Irish Sea.

But it wasn’t just those in the capital who were soaking it all up.

Hundreds in Kilkenny flocked to parks and playgrounds to make the most of the sunshine.

Ekaterina Ruzgene, 27, who is originally from Russia, says she loves living in Ireland and adores our weather.

She said: “Ireland is so much better than Russia because your winters are a lot nicer and warmer.

“It is nothing compared to home where it could be -20 degrees.”

And the great news is that this beautiful weather isn’t going anywhere fast with Met Eireann forecasting clear skies and sunny days for the rest of the week.

A spokeswoman for Met Eireann said: “It’ll be mainly a dry day tomorrow with lots of warm sunshine but still with the risk of a few showers breaking out in parts of the northwest and west in the afternoon and evening.

"Winds will be mainly light, with highest temperatures of between 18 to 23 degrees.

"And the hot weather is set to stay with us right over next weekend. It may well last into early days of next week too, but this aspect is still in the balance.

"Temperatures each afternoon should peak in the low twenties.

"But values on coasts exposed to any onshore easterlies or sea breezes, will be a little lower and a bit fresher, but quite pleasant nonetheless."

But Met Eireann also warned sun-soakers not to be reckless with their bodies and take precautions by using sun cream.